The sale contract represents a key milestone for Raytheon as Qatar is the first country to procure the AMRAAM-ER missile system.

Designed to offer increased ground-based air defence, AMRAAM-ER is a surface-to-air extended-range variant of the AMRAAM. The system is capable of intercepting targets at longer distances and higher altitudes.

The Middle East nation is the 11th country to procure Raytheon’s NASAMS.

NASAMS is a medium-range air-defence system manufactured by Raytheon in partnership with Norwegian firm Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.

It features the Raytheon Sentinel radar and can fire multiple interceptors, including AMRAAM-ER.

The Patriot system is in use with 16 countries for integrated air and missile defence.

The system is equipped with radars, command and control technology and interceptors. It has the ability to detect, identify and defeat tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, drones, advanced aircraft and other threats.

In a joint statement, US President Donald Trump and Qatar Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani said: “Together, we applaud the significant advances made by our two countries across a range of commercial and defence opportunities, and we reiterate the importance of continued cooperation.”